Archive for October, 2009

Chevrolet HHR Review and Impressions

admin | October 31, 2009

The Chevrolet HHR with it’s unique styling and design is continuing on in Chevy’s desire to replicate a retro look to attract new customers. In many ways it seems that Chevy is trying to create a unique and distinct styling to separate itself from the competition. Even in the choice of colors, the Chevrolet HHR is unique.

What’s not unique is the ride, reliability, fit and finish. Although it’s not in the bottom echelon of domestics it really does continue to typify the Chevrolet history of just o.k. cars. The reason for this opinion is; due to 24 mpg which is just average, reliability, accident avoidance and satisfaction which is all just o.k. Just a bit better is the acceleration, ride, comfort in the front seats and the owner costs.

All in all the Chevrolet HHR is a fair car for a fair price. If the car fits and the style belongs then there really isn’t any reason to take the Chevrolet HHR off your list and just may be worth putting on your short list. Of course with any car so much of it is how does it feel, sound and drive for each individual. In many cases a raving review is subjective to the reviewer and may altogether be a different experience for another.

The bottom line is to test it for yourself and develop your own opinion. Who knows, you may write your own review for the Chevy HHR.

Auto Insurance for At-Risk Drivers

admin | October 31, 2009

Auto Insurance for at risk drivers can be very difficult to obtain due to the high risk that would be assumed by the insurance carrier. Obviously this makes it very difficult to purchase affordable auto insurance with even the minimum requirement of liability. To even add other coverage such as comprehensive and collision would be expensive on top of the minimum limits of liability.

With this in mind some carriers have entered into this market of high risk or at risk drivers although as one could guess it’s not at a discount price. With the knowledge that there are not many carriers who will write this unique risk they are relatively free to set their premium where they want. Obviously it is always in one’s best interest to shop around and compare coverage and price and with this type of auto insurance it certainly is no different

Some things to help obtain auto insurance at reasonable prices is to take safe driving classes and to avoid any sort of moving violations. The goal is to remain ticket free and accident free for a minimum of three years although five years will definitely offer better pricing. Typically Auto Insurance Carriers will only look back at the most five years and some will honor discounts at three years.

One other thing to remember is that typically male drivers between the ages of sixteen and twenty-six regardless of driving history is automatically place into the at-risk category. This may be discrimination but that is an entirely separate subject. Regardless, the best thing you can do if you fall into this category is have excellent grades and GPA along with a very squeaky clean driving record.

So in the end be sure to shop the different carriers and drive defensively as the rest is up to the individual auto insurance companies. Happy Driving.

Toyota Venza 2009

admin | October 29, 2009

Again and again Toyota seems to come up with winners in almost every class of vehicle they produce. The Toyota Venza is once again no different. Improving on the “crossover” concept Toyota is going to be selling a lot of these.

Without question the Toyota Venza is a complete package that will lure buyers because of it’s room, ride and reliability. The only not so bright spot is the fuel economy. However, when compared to similar vehicles in it’s class it’s on average.

The stand out aspects of the Toyota Venza is the acceleration considering the size and weight in relation to the fuel economy. This aspect alone makes it great automobile for a road trip. The ride is good for a vehicle in this class and the accident avoidance dynamic is quite good.

Safety as with all Toyotas continue to be a priority and the Venza is absolutely no different. Along with the high customer satisfaction and the annual costs of maintenance the Toyota Venza is going to be hit from everybody who wants to get away to the family who wants a change from the minivan.

Be sure to drive safe and change the oil in no matter what car you drive.

Property Insurance Values

admin | October 29, 2009

Property Insurance values always can be a struggle to determine since real estate and economic factors influence values. To make things more challenging values are also based on rebuild costs which are always subject to markets. As a result determining what a building may be worth can be somewhat tricky.

An important thing to note is that Property Insurance includes typically both the building and contents. However for the sake of this blog we are only considering the building value.

To help ease the error of margin insurance companies have built into policies a percentage in which the insured value needs to be in relation to the actual rebuild value. Often eighty percent is used and some cases ninety percent. In other instances there can be a 100%, however in this scenario there really isn’t any room for error. Of course the premium is usually more when the room for error is greater and typically less when there is no fudge room at all.

For this reason it is always best to update values and have appraised values regularly. When it comes to Property Insurance and more specifically Building Values, in some policies an Agreed Value can be used between the insured and the insurer.

So, never under insure the value to save premium as a strategy to save money as you will be penalized with something called the co-insurance clause. The co-insurance clause will be discussed in a separate blog so until then be sure to check your policies and values.

Jeep Wrangler

admin | October 29, 2009

Let’s admit it! Which red blooded Amercian boy did not want a Jeep when they were old enough. The thought of sloshing through water and mud on a set of wheels with no roof and the wind blowing in your face brought a smile to all of our faces. Just the imagery of exploration was enough to put our imagination on edge.

Today the Jeep Wrangler continues to please our eyes and excite our senses. However, the reality of affording something that will provide reliable and cost effective use can wake us from our dream. Unfortunately, the Jeep Wrangler although very much off-road capable, is not very street and suburban practical.

The reliability history is not very good along with the fuel economy followed by the ability to avoid accidents and the overall ride. Although safety has improved the other factors continue to label this vehicle as a “toy” for those with money to burn on play time.

The Jeep Wrangler continues to be every boys childhood icon and righfully so, however, it also is every man’s financial repair.

Texas Boat Insurance

admin | October 28, 2009 | Comments (0)

Texas Boat Insurance is an absolute must for those who live in the Gulf Coast Regions. With the high cost of boat ownership it never makes sense to leave your asset unprotected.

So before going on the water in the Gulf Coast States, shop around for boat insurance that best suits your needs. Be sure to get rates from multiple carriers to get the best insurance protection for the money!

Most definitely it is always important to make sure your family and friends are protected not only with a life jacket but also with insurance. There are also coverage options to provide on-water towing.

Happy and Safe Boating!

Church Risk Insurance

admin | October 28, 2009

Church Risk Insurance is unique to the insurance industry because of diversity of activities that go on. These activities can include although not limited to; weekly church meetings, mid-week services, youth groups, children’s ministries, day-care, nurseries, mission trips both domestic and foreign, food pantry, clothe closet, garage sales, counseling, treatment centers, employees, volunteers, parishioners, community outreach and events, bus ministries, vehicles owned and non-owned and many other risks.

Covering such risks take time and patience to competently recognize and analyze to afford the correct coverage types. By taking the time to examine all the functions and scope of the church life, churches can avoid some painful insurance disappointments. Unfortunately too many churches make costly assumptions that their basic General Liability Insurance addresses all of these risks, however, it does not.

By carefully considering all the activities and functions that a church may engage in, any competent insurance professional can apply insurance and risk management principles to address the risks and concerns that faces the church. Although Church Insurance Risks can be somewhat diverse and complex there are the necessary policies available. Quite often there are niche programs that can be tailored to specifically offer broad coverage types while keeping premium dollars down.

With many of these programs it is extremely important to understand the triggers for coverage and how the insurance would respond in different scenarios. It’s possible to think that because you may have a Church Insurance Program that your completely covered, however many programs are completely different in regards to limits, coverage, defense costs, umbrellas and the list could go on. So although a program may be good it still requires complete understanding to make sure the program addresses the uniqueness of each individual church.

With this said relevant insurance is always cheaper than “passive retention” in any and every scenario after a loss!

Day Care Insurance

admin | October 27, 2009

Day Care Insurance is a specific type of insurance program that specifically is designed to address the unique risks of a day care or Montessori School. Although there are similar types of programs such as School Insurance or Social Services types of insurance, Day Care Insurance is unique due to the age of the customers, scope of the program and the employees.

As with any insurance program you always have your General Liability and Property Coverage along with coverage for any autos you may insure. However this is where most similarities end. With Day Care Insurance you will need to have at least two other coverage types.

First you will need “Sexual Abuse and Molestation” coverage as this is not a covered cause of loss or liability under the GL or Property coverages. Sexual Abuse and Molestation will cover those things as the name implies. The most important thing to remember is that these allegations will cost you money, whether in attorney fees and/or reduction in enrollment when the story breaks. Either one is certainly enough to bankrupt a business.

With a number of programs that offer this coverage they will also have some sort of limit to cover the Public Relations that will need to ensue. This is to help the business owner recover after such an ordeal, provided the accusation was against one of his or her employees and not the owner him or herself.

Second, a Day Care Insurance program should incorporate an Accident Policy. Although this is a Life and Health product this coverage is unique to schools and daycares as it pays for injuries to students that get hurt during the school’s or daycare’s hours of operation. In return this usually eases the parents initial concern which alleviates the temptation for litigation.

Of course with any insurance it is important to listen to your insurance agent and ask questions. So be sure to work with an agent who meets with you personally and understands your unique business.

Insurance Deductibles

admin | October 26, 2009

Insurance Deductibles can sometimes confuse consumers when it comes to when and how claims are paid. Typically there is some sort of deductible that will apply either before the payment is made or taken out of the monies to be paid. Regardless of how the deductible money is received, in the end it all comes out the same in regards to the final claim amount that is paid.

Where things can sometimes become a little more tricky is when it comes to percentage deductibles on property claims involving wind and or hail. In some areas that are more prone to hurricanes, such as Florida, Louisiana, Texas and all the other Gulf coast states, insurance companies will typically apply a 1% or 2% deductible on the insured amount for the building and or contents. In some cases, there have either been a 5% deductible or a complete exclusion of wind/hail damage.

Of course it will always be very important to consider the amount of the deductible and be sure that it is affordable to you. Of course deductible amounts can be either increased or decreased depending on the policy. With this said the premium will usually increase with the lower deductibles and increase with the higher deductibles. Therefore, some may choose based on what their finances and/or risk tolerance will allow.

Something to note is that some deductibles are in the form of what the insurance world calls a “Time Element” deductible which is usually seen “Business Interruption” claims. Although we are not looking into this coverage specifically it is important to know if you have a 72 hour waiting period or a 0 hour waiting period as this makes a big difference. And or course learning after a loss is never a good time to discover this.

When it’s all said and done the most important thing is to have the right coverage and deductibles that you are aware of and accept. So be sure to go over your policy once a year with a trained professional and keep your deductibles down by preventing and or reducing claims.

Property Insurance Basics

admin | October 23, 2009

When it comes to property insurance the number one thing to keep in mind are your values. Afterall, values are the purpose of this insurance since the General Liability covers the “other” risks for all intensive purposes.

Why then do so many individuals under-value their property and contents? For the most part it seems that people think that their premium will be so much lower, although it will be lower, the rate in most cases stays the same. For this reason you’re best off to insure the value of your building(s) and content(s) for the correct amounts as it will not significantly be that much higher.

A very critical concern for those who under value their Property Insurance coverage is something called the “co-insurnace” clause. What this simply means is that your going to be assessed a percentage deduction in your claim payment in the event of a partial loss in relation to the percentage amount that you under-insured for. Suffice it to say that this is never a “good-deal”.

Another important concept of Property Insurance is that of “Actual Cash Value” (ACV) versus “Replacement Cost Value” (RCV). They simply mean exactly what they imply. ACV will only replace lost and/or damaged goods based on what they were worth at the time of loss, in essence the ebay or re-sale shop value or price. This then means that RCV will replace the loss of contents at the value it would cost to purchase the items to be replaced with new like kind and quality.

After these things it is important to choose a deductible that you can afford to pay should a claim arise. How insurance companies apply the deductible is based on state and carrier regulations. However, suffice it to say that you need to be able to afford the deductible amount.

One last point to make is that in some regions deductibles are a “take it or leave it” type of scenario. For example, those in Hurricane prone areas usually are offered a percentage deductible such as a 1% or 2% of their building and/or contents value. This then can be much more than a $1000 or $2500 flat deductible.

Of course it is always important to discuss these issues with a licensed insurance agent to determine what insurance strategy would be best for you.

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